Seems the idea I just threw out is getting some play. I would support the idea of a different type of site. With some of the ideas suggested for improvement, one that is even more commited to actual painters and their improvement and promotion of the hobby.
Don\'t get me wrong I LOVE CMON and all of the wonderful articles and resources it offers to those of us that actually use it, but a site dedicated to aspiring and developing painters would be great. I agree that I have found many of the other forums a little to warm and fuzzy for my taste. I want people to critique my work, tell me where they see room for improvement, and suggest other techniques and such to improve. Frankly I don\'t see the point in being heavily involved in an online community that doesn\'t offer some of that. And when I do get comments from forum denizens and painters that I respect, good or bad, it makes my day. From what I have seen of some of the other forums, it is only so much mutual mental masturbation, and not very helpful in the development of painters.
CMONII ( in my dream world) should not be elitist but should involve people that are willing to have an online presence and have some accountability for their actions. The random sniping that happens on this site has, I am sure, driven off some people with high potential ( in fact I know of a couple). I think that what people who are trying to improve really want is real critique, honest criticism, and a comraderie with other painters. What I don\'t want is people to tell me how great I paint, what I want is a community of people who share honest opinions and comments that all have in mind the improvement and promotion of the hobby.
Guess what guys and gals, the more promotion and excitement the hobby generates, the more COOL stuff is available for us to paint!!!
I also think that it could be a site running concurrently with CMON that only member types would have access to. If you are willing to provide your email address so that people have a way to contact you and are willing to support the ongoing efforts and expenses of the site then that just plain shows a different level of commitment to the hobby than the peanut gallery that just shows up to throw numbers at work where they have no clue as to the effort of creation.
Luckily we can have this discussion in the forums ( I think) without incurring the wrath of the snipers out there.
Let me just say that I had a discussion with a VERY good painter at a convention this weekend who said that he just plain ignores CMON due to all the BS sniping and lack of accountability involved, he doesn\'t find it helpful at all. I would love to pull this painter and everyone like him into the community so that we can all benefit from his experience! AND build a more committed community that would have us all discussing techniques and sharing a beer at various events in the future!
You maniacs are my peeps and I would love the chance to get to know you and learn from you. We are a very small minority in this great wide world and the internet is THE best place for us to come together and offer support and encouragement, as well as offering to buy the occasional round
